Printing-plate clamp



w. EVENSEN. PRINTING PLAIE CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6,19I7.

1,344,939, Patented June 29,1920.

INVE/VTUR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. EVENSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOSS, PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. y

PRINTING-PLATE CLAMP.

Application filed November 6, 1917. Serial No, 200,502.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. EVEN- SEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Plate Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to adjustable plate clamps, such as are used in positioning and holding in position. electrotype', stereotype and other plates upon the cylinder or other form bearing member of a printing press.

The invention consists in the novel articles, parts, constructions,- arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter, and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention; the same being realized and attained through the means, instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the ap pended claims.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a Jart hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description serve to illustrate the principles thereof.

(If the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plate clamp embodying the invention, and show ing' sectional fragments of the plate and of the press bed;

Fig. 2- is a transverse section of the clamp and press bed on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3. is a bottom plan of the alone; V

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the alone, looking at it from the left as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is isometric view of one clamping members;

e is a view of screw and Fig. 7 is a View of the auxiliary clamping screw. 4

Referring to the accompanying drawillustrating by way of example the ent preferred. embodiment of my invention. the. clamping plate or jaw 1 is pro- Vided with a beveled, undercut edge 2, adapted to take over the beveled edge of the plate 3'to position and firmly hold down clamp device shown of the the main clamping Specification of Letters Patent.

7 the plates upon the plate bed 4 of a cylinder or other like press member.

The clamp is adapted to work in slots of different cross-sectional forms in the bed 4, but as illustrated, theslots 5.are formed with opposing straight Walls 6 and 7,, which are parallel to each other, the bottom part of the. groove, however, being undercut as shown at 8 and 9. 1

The body 10 of the clamp is fixed to, or integral with, the clamping jaw 1, and is of general rectangular form, substantially filling the portion of slot in the press bed having the parallel side walls, the clamp body extending downwardly past the por tion of the slot wherein the walls are undercut (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). As embodied, the clamp body is integral for its entire length within the slot, but .is recessed intermediately or centrally of its len h to receive cooperating expanding mem ers 14 and 15, which are forced outwardly into the undercut portions at the sides of the slot, to hold the clamp in position against the printing plate.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the cooperating expanding members and the clampbody are so. formed that the clamp is self contained, that is, it has no loose part but holds together when handler. .As embodied, a recess 16. is formed transveresly through the bottom part of the body 10 0f the clamp, and interinediately of the ends of the clamp body. This recess has the side Walls 17 and 18 thereof undercut and preferably beveled divergently upwardly. The two cooperating expanding members 14 and l5jare substantially of half the width of the body 10 of the clamp (see Fig. 3) Each of these members 14. and 15 have their ends beveled upwardly, as shown at 21 and 22, to fit within the beveled recesses in the clamp body. Thus, when the clamp is picked up, the expanding members are carried therewith, but the expanding members are free for transverse movement such astakes place during the expanding or clamping action. The expanding .members 14 and 15 lie side by side in the recess in the lower part of the clamp body, and they are each formed on their inner faces with corresponding or alined heini-conical recesses 23 and 24 to re- 7 ceive the conical head of an The embodied form of expanding means comprises a screw 25, having a conical head 26, fitting into the hemi-conical recesses formed in the expanding members, the screw-threaded shank 27 of the screw engaging the screw threaded aperture 28 which extends upwardly through the clamp body 10. The end of the screw is provided with a slot 29 accessible from the top of the clamp.

Means are provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, for preventing the removal or accidental dropping out of the clamp from the slot while permitting the clamp to move freely along the slot. In the embodied form of such means, a screw 30, preferably provided with a conical end or tip 31 is screw-threaded through the clamp body 10, so that the conical'tip of the screw is just above and in alinement with the inner faces of the expanding members 14 and 15. By turning the screw home, or to the proper point, the expanding members 1% and 15 may move outwardly just sufficiently to prevent the upward removal of the clamp from the slot, while leaving it free to slide longitudinally there in. By turning the screw 30 back very slightly, the expanding members 1a and 15 may move inwardly, so that the clamp is readily removable from the slot.

A clamp constructed in accordance with theinvention is very compact and sturdy, having the j aw and body integral, and having the body of one piece filling the main cross-sectional area of the slot, and extending for the full length of the clamp struc ture; The expanding members are simple and strong, and are yet inclosed within and protected by the clamp body, and the clamping action is very simple and direct. The clamping screw cannot come out of the clamp and'cause damage to the press or plates. There is also great advantage in the utilization of the headless screws, as the breaking ofi of the screwheads with consequent damage to the press or plates, and the screw is at all times inside of the clamp.

It will be understoodthat changes may be made from the details of construction as shown and described; within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

WVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Aplate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed, and including in combination a clamping aw, a body integral therewith and located within the slot in the bed plate, said body having a vertically disposed screw-threaded aperture therein and another screw-threaded aperture, said body being formed with a transverse recess therein, the

end walls thereof the body widening upwardly, two expanding members fitting within said recess longitudinally side by side and having their ends beveled to conform to-the bevel of therecess in the body, and having hemi-conical recesses in their inner faces, a screw threaded into the screwthreaded aperture in the clamp body and having a conical headwithin the hemi-coni-i cal recesses in the expanding members to hold the clamp firmly in position in the slot, and a screw in said other screw-threaded aperture in the clamp body and having a conical point adapted-t0 pass between the two expanding members to force them only slightly outwardly to loosely retain the clamp in the slot.-

2. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a clamping aw, a bodyintegral therewith and located within the slot in the bed plate, said 7 body having a screw-threaded aperture therein and being formed with a transverse recess therein intermediate its ends, the end walls ofv the recess widening upwardly, two

expanding members fitting within said re cess longitudinally side by side and having their ends beveled to conform to the bevel of the recessin the body, and having hemiconical recesses on'their inner faces, and a screw threaded into the clamp body and having a conical head within the .hemi-conical recesses in the expanding members to force them outwardly into engagement with the walls of the slot. I v 1 i v The combination with a plate bed for printing plates having a groove therein the sides of which are undercut at the bottom and with substantially parallel sides from the undercut portion to the top, of a plate clamp having a plate engaging jaw and a body extending into the slot, there being a pair of expanding members carried by the body in alinement with the undercut portion of the slot, means for forcing the expanding members outwardly into said undercut portion to firmly hold 7 the plate clamp in position, and means for moving the expanding members out slightly to hold the clamp body loosely in the slot. 7

4. The combination with a plate bed for printing plates having a groove therein the sides of which are undercut at the bottom and with substantially parallel sides from the undercut portion to the top, of a plate clamp having a plate engaging jaw and a body extending into the slot, there being a pair of expanding members carried by the body in alinement with theundercut portion of the slot, a screw threaded in the body to force the expanding members forcibly into the undercut portion of the slot and a screw threaded into the clamp body to move the expanding members slightly apart to hold the clamp loosely in the slot.

V 'the hemi-conical recess in the expanding '5. A plate clamp-operating with 'aslotted plate bed, and including in combination a plate clamping jaw, a body integral therewith and located within theslot in the bed plate, oppositely moving expanding members mounted in ways in said body, and means for forcing said expanding members outwardly laterally on both sides without movement along said body to expand and fasten the clamp in the slot.

6. A plate clamp'opera'ting with a slotted plate bed, and including in combination a plate clamping jaw, a body integral therewith and located within the slot in the bed plate, said body having internal guideways substantially parallel to the surface of the plate bed, oppositely moving expansion members within the body and slidable in said guideways outwardly on both sides against the slot walls, and means for forcing the expansion membersoutwardly to fasten the clamp in the slot.

7 A plate clamp operating withra slotted plate bed, and including in combination a plate clamping jaw, a clamp body integral therewith and located within the slot in the bed plate, oppositely movingfexpanding members guided by and movable outwardly on both sides of but not along the body to fasten the clamp in the slot,a'nd means for forcing out the expanding members to fasten the clamp in the slot.

8. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a clamping jaw, a body integral therewith and located within theslot in the plate bed, said body having expanding members mov-' ably mounted therewithin, and a screw having threaded engagement with the clamp body and having a conical bottom engaging with theexpanding members "to force them only transversely outwardly into engagement with the slot walls. j

9. Aplate clamp operating with a slotted plate. bed and includingin combination a clamping jaw, a body integral "therewith, oppositely moving expanding devices each having flat engaging faces gripping the 7 slot wall on both sides of the clamp body "and movable thereagainst without being movable along the clamp body, and means for forcing out the expanding members to fasten the clamp in the slot.

10. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including incombination a clamping jaw, a body 'integraltherewith and located within the slot in the. platebed,

said body having a cooperating expanding.

member having a hemi-conical recess therein, and a screw threaded into the clamp body and having a conical bottom engaging member to force it against the clamp wall. '11. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a said body having a recess only inthe bottom clamping jaw, a body integral therewith and located within the slotin the plate bed,

said body having two cooperating expanding members having hemi-conical recesses each facing the other, a screw threaded into the clamp body and having a conical bottom screw threaded into the clamp body and movable upwardly relatively to the expanding member to force. it horizontally against the slot wall, said screw being positionable to permit the retraction of the expanding 'member within the clamp body.

, 13. A plate clamp operating with a' slotted plate bed and including in combination a. clamping jaw, a body integraltherewith and located within the slot in the plate bed, said body having horizontal transverse guidewaystherein, an expanding member within the body and horizontally slidable along said guideways into gripping position and a single screw pushing against the expanding members and screw threaded in the clamp body for so moving the gripping member. 7

14. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a clamping jaw, a body integral therewith and located within the slot in theplate bed, said body having transverse guideways therein, an expanding member within thebody and transversely movable along said guideways into gripping position and a screw threaded into the clamp body and having .an enlarged bottom engaging thegripping member to move it transversely only to cause it to grip the slot wall.

15. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a clamping jaw, a body integral therewith and located within the slot in the plate bed, said body having transverse guideways therein, an expanding member within the body and transversely movable along said guideways into and out of gripping position and having a hemi-conical recess therein,a screw threaded into the clamp body and having a conical bottom engaging with the re cess in the gripping member to force it into engagement with the slot wall. 7

1.6. A plate clamp operating with a slot-. ted plate bed and including in combination and'located within theslot in the plate bed,

part thereof of less length than the clamp body, a gripping member within said recess and having a flat sur'face'to grip the slot wall, and means for forcing said member outwardly to engage the slot wall.

17. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a ted plate bed and including in combination a clamping jaw, a body integral therewith and located within the slot inthe plate bed, said body having a recess in the bottom part thereof of less length than the clamp body, a gripping member within said recess and a screw threaded in the clamp body movable upwardly and having an enlarged bottom engaging the gripping member for forcing said member outwardly to engage the slot wall.

19. A plate clamp in combination with a plate bed having slots therein with straight walls in the upper part thereof and undercut walls in the bottom part thereof, the plate clamp having a transversely rectangular body substantially filling the straight part of the slot and extending downwardly into the undercut part of the slot, expanding means carried by the clamp body and in-v cluding a screw moving upwardly and a member thereby movable into the undercut part of the slot to hold the clamp in position in the slot.

20. A plate clamp in combination with a plate bed having slots therein with straight Walls in the upper part'thereof'and undercut walls in the bottom part thereof, the plate clamp having a transversely rectangular body substantially filling the straight part of the slot and extending downwardly into the undercut part of the slot, expanding means carried by the clamp body and movable into the undercut part of the slot to hold the clamp in position in the slot, and means for so moving the expanding means including an upwardly moving screw having an enlarged bottom.

V 21; A plate clamp in' combination with a plate bed having slots therein with straight walls in the upper part thereof and under cut walls in the bottom part thereof, the plate clamp having a transversely rectangular body substantiallyv filling the straight part of the slot and extending downwardly into the undercut part of the slot, expanding means carried by the clamp body including guideways, and a plurality of members slidable apart therealong intothe undercut part of the slot to hold the clamp in position in the slot, and screw-threaded means for so movin the expanding means.

22. K plate clamp in COIIlblIlltlOl'lWltll a plate bed having slots therein with straight walls in the upper part thereof and undercut walls inthe bottom partthereof, the plate clamp having. a transversely rectangular body substantially filling the straight part of the slot and extending downwardly into the undercut part of the slot, expanding means carried by the clamp body including guideways, and'a plurality of members slidable apart therealong into the undercut part of the slot to hold the clamp in position inthe slot, and a screw threaded into the clamp body movable upwardly and having an enlarged bottom engaging the expanding means to so move said means. 7

23. A plate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a clamping jaw, a clam body integral therewith and 1ocated with1n the'slot in the plate bedfan expanding member mounted within the clamp body and. ,projectable therefrom and retractable within the clamp body and having a flat clamping face engaging the slot wall, and a vertically disposed screw threaded in the clamp body. and directly engaging the expanding member to move it into clamping position,'said screw having turning means accessible from the top of the clamp body.

24. A plate clamp operating with a slot ted plate bed and including in combination 7 a clamping jaw,a clamp body integral therewith and located .within the slot in the jectable from and retractable within the clamp body at the opposite sides thereof and having flat clamping. faces engaging the opposite slot walls, and means for simultaneously pressing the expanding members outwardly against the slot walls. 7

25. Aplate clamp operating with a slotted plate bed and including in combination a clamping aw, aclamp bodyintegral therewith and located within the slot'in the plate bed, opposed expanding members mounted within the clamp body and projectable from and retractable within the clamp body at the opposite sides thereof and having flat clamping faces engaging the opposite slot walls, and a single screw threaded into the clamp body and directly engaging both expanding members to press them against the clamp wall. v I

26. A plate clamp operating with a plate bed having a slot rectangular in its upper part and undercut in its lower part, the plate clamp having a clamping jaw and integral therewith a clamp body extending into the undercut part of the Slot, an expansion member mounted in the lower part of the clamp body and having a flat inclined j side face adapted to fit and press against the undercut portion of the slot wall, and

means for horizontally moving the expansion member into clamping position.

27. A plate clamp operating with a plate bed having a slot rectangular in its upper part and undercut in its lower part, the plate clamp having a clamping jaw and integral therewith a clamp body extending into the undercut part of the slot, an expansion member mounted in the lower part of the clamp body and having a flat inclined side face adapted to fit and press against the undercut portion of the slot wall, and a single screw mounted in and accessible for turning from the top of the clamp body and directly engaging the expansion member I e to move it into'clamping position.

28. A plate clamp operating with a plate bed having a slot rectangular in its upper part and undercut on both sides in its lower part, the plate clamp having a clamping jaw and integral therewith a clamp body extending into the under out part of the slot, a pair of oppositely moving expanding members mounted in the lower part of the clamp body, and having flat inclined outside faces part, the plate clamp having a clamping jaw and integral therewith a clamp body extending into the under out part of the slot, a' pair of oppositely moving expanding members mounted in the lower part of the clamp body, and having flat inclined outside faces adapted to fit against the under turnable from the topof the clamp body and n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. i

WILLIAM M. EVENSEN.

Witnesses:

G. C. ABBOTT, E. H. GRAHAM.

nvaging directly both expansion members cut walls of theslot, and a single screw 

